Debbie Stabenow endorses Haley Stevens in U.S. Senate bid 

A recently retired U.S. senator from Michigan is backing U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, a big pickup for the congresswoman from Birmingham as she seeks the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

Former U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow announced Wednesday morning that she was endorsing Stevens. Stabenow served as Michigan’s senator for nearly 25 years.

“It was the honor of my lifetime to suit up every day and fight for Michigan as your US senator,” Stabenow said in a statement circulated by Stevens’ campaign. “Today, I’m endorsing Congresswoman Haley Stevens to be our next senator, because I know she’ll do the same thing. Haley was born and raised in Michigan.”

Stabenow said Stevens was “Michigan through and through,” and said Stevens has been a key partner of hers since before Stevens served in Congress and was President Barack Obama’s chief of staff for the auto rescue plan during his first term. 

“Haley has the track record and the Michigan grit to lower costs and get things done for Michigan families,” Stabenow said. “Equally important, at this very critical time, I know she can beat Mike Rogers in the general election. The stakes have never been higher, and Haley Stevens is the right person at the right time for Michigan.”

Stevens thanked Stabenow, noting that “throughout our state’s history, there have been few greater champions for Michigan than my friend Debbie Stabenow.”

“She fought for Michigan manufacturing, protected our Great Lakes and clean water, stood up for our farmers, and took on tough fights–and won for Michigan,” Stevens said in a statement. “Senator Stabenow knows what it takes to win in Michigan and deliver for Michigan, and I’ll continue the incredible work she did for our state in the Senate. I’m honored and humbled to have her on my side in this campaign.”

Stevens is facing a tough primary fight against state Sen. Mallory McMorrow of Royal Oak and former Wayne County health official Abdul El-Sayed.

Stabenow’s backing certainly helps Stevens make her case for the role, as the former senator can now count herself as one of Stevens’ most prominent Michigan-based campaign surrogates.

The winner of the August primary will likely go on to face the presumptive Republican nominee, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of White Lake. Rogers, who is endorsed by President Donald Trump and is the clear frontrunner, still faces a primary challenge from former Michigan Republican Party co-chair Bernadette Smith.